CORDLESS POWER TOOLS WITH A UNIVERSAL CONTROLLER AND TOOL AND BATTERY IDENTIFICATION

• US 20130255980A1
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc. (Ingersoll Rand, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Linehan, John J., Becker, Daniel, Johnson, Joshua Odell
• Granted Patent: US 9,878,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/2
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 3/00 Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A controller in a cordless power tool is configured to electronically read an identifier (e.g., a battery characterizing resistor) in a battery and identify the battery characteristics that is being powered. The controller can also define the suitable performance or output parameters of the tool for an identified tool type using a defined electronic library or menu of different tool types that is correlated to associated operational profiles.

Claims

1. A handheld power tool, comprising:

a power tool body;

an electric motor held in the power tool body;

a universal controller in the power tool body in communication with the electric motor, the universal controller having or being in communication with an electronic component that defines a tool type identifier in the power tool body; and

a battery pack releasably attachable to the power tool body, the battery pack having an on-board electronic identifier,

wherein the universal controller has a plurality of different operational control modes for a plurality of different tool types and a plurality of different battery packs with different battery characteristics, and wherein the controller automatically selects an appropriate control mode based on the tool type identifier and the battery pack identifier.

2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the controller is defined by a trigger switch, and wherein the electronic component that defines a tool type identifier comprises a resistor held by or in communication with the trigger switch.

3. The power tool of claim 2, wherein the trigger switch comprises a set of terminals, and wherein the resistor defining the tool type identifier is electrically connected to at least one of the terminals.

4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the tool type identifier comprises a resistor and the battery pack identifier comprises a resistor, and wherein the controller comprises a control module that applies a scalar factor to operating parameters based on at least one of the tool type identifier or the battery pack identifier.

5. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the electronic component that defines the tool type identifier is configured to be attached to a trigger switch during assembly of the power tool such that, during assembly, a respective trigger switch has an open terminal that is reserved for the electronic component that defines the tool type identifier, the trigger switch being in communication with the battery pack.

6. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the power tool comprises a pistol handle portion, and wherein the tool type identifier is attached to the universal controller and resides in the pistol handle, and wherein the universal controller is configured to have at least three of the following:

drill, impact, ratchet and screwdriver operational power tool modes.

7. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the universal controller is configured to identify battery pack and tool type mismatches and prevent operation of the power tool.

8. The power tool of claim 1, wherein a portion of the power tool body is color-coded to a color associated with the electronic component to aid in proper assembly selection.

9. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the universal controller is configured to electronically identify a resistor value of a resistor connected to the trigger switch or that forms part of the trigger switch that defines the tool type electronic identifier, and wherein the universal controller is configured to define at least one of a current shutdown limit and time to shutdown that is proportional to the resistor value.

10. A trigger switch for a cordless power tool, comprising:

a plurality of terminal inputs configured, during use, to be in electrical communication with terminal inputs on a rechargeable battery pack, wherein at least one of the terminal inputs is configured to be in communication with a tool type electronic identification component; and

a universal controller in communication with the terminal inputs, the universal controller configured to electronically identify a tool type of a power tool using the tool type identification component, then select one of a plurality of pre-programmed operational modes based on the identified tool type.

11. The trigger switch of claim 10, wherein the tool type identification component comprises a resistor.

12. The trigger switch of claim 10, wherein the universal controller is configured to identify battery pack and tool type mismatches and prevent operation of a power tool having a mismatch.

13. The trigger switch of claim 10, wherein, when assembled to a power tool body, the universal controller is configured to electronically identify battery characteristics of a rechargeable battery pack attached to the power tool body.

14. The trigger switch of claim 10, wherein the universal controller is configured to electronically identify a resistor value of a resistor connected to the trigger switch or that forms part of the trigger switch, and wherein the universal controller is configured to define at least of a current shutdown limit and time to shutdown that is proportional to the resistor value.

15. A method of assembling a cordless power tool, comprising:

providing a battery pack useable with a plurality of different power tool types, the battery pack having an on-board identifier that defines battery characteristics;

providing a power tool controller useable with a plurality of different power tool types, the controller having a plurality of defined operational modes for different tool types;

allowing an assembler to place an electronic, tool type identifier on a control interface switch that is electronically associated with a defined tool type; and

electronically selecting an operational mode for the power tool controller based on the tool identifier and the battery pack identifier.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power tool controller comprises or is defined by a trigger switch, and wherein the allowing step is carried out by allowing the assembler to select a resistor having a resistor value that identifies a corresponding tool type to the controller so that the controller can select the correct operational mode.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a plurality of different resistors having different resistor values, and wherein the allowing the assembler to select one that is associated with a respective tool type.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to identify battery pack and tool type mismatches and prevent operation of the power tool.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a portion of the power tool body is color-coded to a color associated with a corresponding tool type electronic component, and wherein the allowing an assembler step is carried out by the assembler placing the electronic component with a color that substantially matches the portion of the power tool body on the controller.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the color-coded electronic component comprises a resistor, and wherein the controller is the trigger switch.